“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”

Today at Holy Mass we read in the first reading a letter from St Paul to his friend Timothy…In the letter Paul tells Timothy about the many trials he had to endure on the many mission trips he took preaching the fullness of Truth to hostile people…….”You have followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, persecutions that I endured”……When we read about the lives of the saints, who were “regular people” just like us, I think to myself - This is how we are to live - Do you think the same?…Saints are nothing more than examples that point to Christ - They show us the way forward and St Paul did just that - He was fearless and “all in” - How about us?….In this letter today Paul tells Timothy something else - Something that Jesus Christ himself said to the original twelve Apostles - “If they persecuted me, they will surely persecute you!” - Do you think that does not apply to us today?!?……These are the words of St Paul…..”In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”…One of the driving factors that hold the Catholic Church back in America is we are WAY to comfortable - Look at the Church in Africa - Its thriving! - Keep in mind, in countries like Nigeria, which has a significant Catholic population, people die for their faith regularly - And the Church in Nigeria is growing!!!!…..In America, our belly’s are full and our wallets are way too fat! - And because of that, we “take God along for the ride” with “our plans” as opposed to letting God dictate “THE PLAN” to us and lead us to where we have to go - We have NOT given up the reins of our life to God! - Far too many American Catholics live their life just like their pagan neighbors - “Ticking the box” on official forms does not make you Catholic…..This is not the path to heaven!!!……We were not put on this earth to be “comfortable” we were given life by God to bring about the Kingdom in the here and now! - And that means we must live radically - Like St Paul……”All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. - Does the Church mirror the words of St Paul? - If not, it needs too!

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him”

Abortion is a sensitive topic today in our society - The Church’s teaching on sex is very clear - Sex is meant to be shared by a man and woman in a Sacramental marriage only - It should be free of any impediment that prevents life (ie no contraception)…..The teaching of the Church could not be any clearer!…Yet, sex outside of marriage is pervasive and because of that abortion is pervasive!….Do we think God does not see this?!?…..But here is the question, if this reality is so pervasive - Where is our Catholic voice addressing it?….Sadly, when a Priest preaches on subjects like this, many Catholics in the pews of Church complain!…..This needs to be addressed too from pulpits around the world  - We are either in or out!….As Catholics its not for us to “pick and choose” what we are to believe…If we have a “problem” with a perennial Church teaching - Here is my advice - Continue to pray, especially before the Blessed Sacrament - Pray the Rosary everyday - Continue to go to mass BUT - Because you do not believe what the Church teaches on say a topic like abortion, when you go to Mass, do not receive the Blessed Sacrament - If you take my advice, in time through your persistent prayer  - The Holy Spirit will enlighten your heart and in time change it!…Then you will be free to receive the Blessed Sacrament when you are ALL IN on what the Church teaches!….We CAN NOT receive the Blessed Sacrament as Catholics on OUR TERMS…And by the way - Nor do we enter heaven on OUR TERMS!

“Princes persecute me without cause but my heart stands in awe of your word”

Today St Paul in the first reading from Mass tells his friend St Timothy something we all should take note of…..”In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”…Notice the word “ALL” - Guess what? - That means you and me!…If we are Catholics and not getting any form of “push back” from the culture around us, frankly we need to stop and ponder if we are living our Catholic faith as we were called too…..By the way, this is not “my opinion”….Throughout the pages of the New Testament, Jesus warns his disciples as does St Paul today that…”In the world you will have trouble”….Yet, in far too many circles, Catholics “play it safe” - We live our life like everyone else around us!….Did Jesus live his life “like everyone else”? - How about St Paul?….Today many people claim to be “activists”, they claim to be looking for a “revolution” - They are “looking” to change society, the culture and the government in radical ways - If you are one of those people - Here is my advice - Become Catholic!……Being Catholic today in the public square is the most “REVOLUTIONARY” thing you can do!…..If we are to objectively study history, many revolutionary figures across the centuries will catch our attention - Jesus Christ was BY FAR the most revolutionary figure history has ever known! - So if you want to be “radical” and live a “revolutionary” life - Be authentically Catholic!……..“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”………..JMJ